Automatically acting ski fastening



May 28, 1935. E. ELSTER AUTOMATICALLY ACTING SKI FASTENING Filed Oct. 18, 1933 Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 18, 1933, Serial No. 694,165 In Finland April 3, 1933 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatically acting ski fastening of the type wherein the heel part is mounted by means of elastic members in such manner that when the heel of the users boot or shoe is pressed down the said heel part snaps in and provides a rigid connection therewith.

An object of the invention is to attach the elastic members to the ski, or to cheeks or plates on the ski, by means of rigid members.

In known ski fastenings of the type stated and wherein a rope like connection is provided, a hook or the like has to be disposed on the ski which engages an eye secured to the heel part thereby holding the heel part fast after unbuckling, so that when the ski is again buckled on the heel of the users boot or shoe already finds the heel part in the correct position. If, however, as in the present invention, rigid connecting members are utilized, the heel part is always in operative position after unbuckling (that is in the position where the heel will be situated after it is pressed down) and the provision of hooks on the ski and corresponding eyes on the heel part are unnecessary, whereby the fastening bec'omes considerably simpler.

According to the invention the elastic members are pivotally mounted on the ski, or on cheeks or plates, through the intermediary of rigid connecting members and are adjustable lengthwise.

The drawing shows a typical embodiment of ski fastening according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows the fastening in side elevation with the heel part snapped into engagement with the users boot.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the heel part.

Fig. 3 is a plan of a cheek or plate constituting part of the fastening.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan showing one of the into its bearing in the said cheek or plate.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan showing the said member during its introduction or removal.

The heel part I of the fastening is provided below with a sliding surface 2 which bears on the ski. Springs 3 are attached to rigid members 4 which are pivotally mounted on the ski, or in cheeks or plates 9 as shown. The front end 5 of each spring is more tightly coiled and forms a female thread whereinto the pertaining member I, which has a corresponding male thread 6,

rigid connecting members after its introduction can be screwed more or less deeply according to the size of the users boot or shoe and/or the required spring tension. The front end of the member 4 is bent to form a journal 1 terminating in a nose 8 by which it is rotatably mounted and 5 retained in a bearing hole ID in the plate 9.- The .bearing hole I0 is preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 3. For adjustment the member I must be pulled out of the bearing hole Ill. This is effected in that the unbuckled fastening is lifted 10 to the line X-X in Fig. 1 and then the member 4 is turned outward laterally through about against the resistance of its spring, whereupon it is pulled out in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 5). The attachment described has the advan- 5 tage over the usual bayonet couplings that the connection will not open accidentally when the fastening dangles on the ski while this is being carried.

For attaching the springs 3 to the heel part ex- 20 tensions l2 which are integral with the heel part and extend into the springs are provided with threaded portions ll whereon the springs are screwed for the purposes of attachment. This connection is extremely simple and there are no 25 protruding parts between which snow can easily settle and cause the formation of ice.

I claim:

1. A ski fastening comprising, in combination,

a slidable heel part engaging said ski in slidable 30 bearing relation and forming a steadying support for said part, elastic members extending forwardly from said heel part, rigid members secured to the elastic members, bearing plates adapted for attachment to the ski, journal portions integral $6 with the rigid members to engage bearing holes in the plates and noses integral with the journal portions to engage the plates behind said holes upon turning movement of the rigid members.

2. A ski fastening comprising, in combination, a 40 slidable heel part with integral screw-threaded wings, coiled elastic members screwed onto the said wings, threaded rigid members screwed into the other ends of said elastic members, bearing plates adapted for attachment to the ski, journal (5 portions integral with the rigid members to engage bearing holes in the plates, and noses integral with the journal portions to engage the plates behind said holes upon turning movement of the rigid members.

ERNST 

